Separation of Church and State

America's Religious Roots
   
 America was settled primarily by people seeking religious freedom.
  The Pilgrims came to America after a century of Protestant reformation
  The Puritans came primarily to flee the repressive measures of the Church of England and live in good conscience before God.
  Soon the northern colonies were populated with Presbyterians, Methodists, Quakers, and other denominations.[4]
 American's Founding documents reflect our religious heritage. To view the full text of any document listed, click on its name in the bibliography.
  

MAYFLOWER COMPACT (November 11, 1620) Document signed by 41 male passengers on the Mayflower before landing at Plymouth (Massachusetts Bay Colony) to bind the group into a political body and pledge members to abide by any laws that would be established.[6]
"In The Name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first colony in the northern Parts of Virginia . . ."

  
  THE DECLARATION ON TAKING UP ARMS (July 6, 1775) The Continental Congress decided that the various state armies should be organized into the Continental Army and that a "Declaration of Arms" should be read to it.[9]
". . . But a reverence for our great Creator, principles of humanity, and the dictates of common sense must convince all those who reflect upon the subject, that government was instituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be administered for the attainment of that end.

". . . we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare that, exerting the utmost energy of those powers which our beneficent Creator has graciously bestowed upon us, the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the preservation of our liberties . . .

"With an humble confidence in the mercies of the Supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the universe, we most devoutly implore his divine goodness to protect us happily through this great conflict, to dispose our adversaries to reconciliation on reasonable terms, and thereby to relieve the empire from the calamities of civil war."
  
  

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (July 4, 1776) Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, . . . expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people . . . set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.[8]
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. . .. We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare . . .

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

  
  ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (1781-89) Early US constitution that bridged the initial government by the First Continental Congress and the federal government provided under the US Constitution of 1787.[7]
" . . . And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union."
  
  

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE (July 13, 1787) Considered to be one of the most significant achievements of the Congress of the Confederation, the Northwest Ordinance put the world on notice not only that the land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi would be settled but that it would eventually become part of the United States. . .. Above all, the Northwest Ordinance accelerated the westward expansion of the United States.[10]
"Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged . . ."(Article 3)

   
  UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION (Adopted September 9, 1787, Ratified June 21, 1788) . . . the oldest written national constitution in operation. The Constitution was silent on the subject of God and religion because there was a consensus that, despite the framer's personal beliefs, religion was a matter best left to the individual citizens and their respective state governments (and most states in the founding era retained some form of religious establishment). . .. it deferred to the states on all matters regarding religion and devotion to God.[11]
  
  OUR CONSTITUTION'S FAMILY TREE
  
  BILL OF RIGHTS (Ratified December 15, 1791) [The Constitution] provided a stronger, yet still limited, federal government than the Articles of Confederation . . . There was deep concern, however, that with its expanded powers, the Federal government might be tempted to seize the rights of the states and the people, rights they had won in the still-recent Revolutionary War. Before the states ratified the Constitution, Congress promised to safeguard these freedoms [by drafting the first 10 amendments, or the Bill of Rights] and ensure the Constitution's passing.[4]
   
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